A/N: Wow, last chapter... I want to thank you tremendously for the wonderful reviews you have given me! Really, I never thought I would get this much feeback! I'm so surprised and happy :D THANK YOU!

This is the longest chapter of this story. Enjoy!

Chapter XX – Like the flower

Pirates of the Caribbean

Como la flor

When Angelica woke up, it was pouring outside. It rained so much it seemed as if the sky had opened up. The daylight lit up the garden she could see from her position in bed. The sky was white in the cover of clouds. There was this dull feeling of the day, she could just feel it. It was quite early in the morning, so the loud voices coming from downstairs surprised her. She couldn't believe her parents were up this early. Then again, her mother was always first up to fix everything in the house.

She turned around from the big window to instead face the wall and the open door to her closet. The daylight, sound from downstairs and the sound of raindrops didn't let her fall back to sleep, so she eventually sat up.

She pushed the covers off of her and strolled over to the desk beside the large window. While fingering on her withered flower, she gazed over the muddy garden. The leaves on the trees hung down by the raindrops pattering them. There was just this feeling in the air that depressed her. The weather was bad and so were her thoughts of Jack. In the closet she chose a dress to wear. A whipped cream one with pink decorations along the embroideries. A matching hat was placed on the hatrack above. She placed it on her head, tightened it by a ribbon wrapping around the hat and under her chin. Whipped cream gloves with similar pink decorations were over her hands as well.

Not even bothering thinking of changing the flower she opened the door and headed along the hallway. The voices from downstairs got louder the closer she walked. For a brief moment she paused at the beginning of the broad staircase, but then she walked down.

It was first when she almost had reached the very last step that she saw what was happening.

In the entrance room stood her mother and father. Both were fully dressed and they had a serious look on their faces.

Antonia stood nearby with Edward Jr. wearing equal frowns. The front door was opened as well, letting the light breeze blow inside and the sound of rain enter the room. Well dressed lancers revealed their high position in the society and she wondered for the short moment what they were doing there in her house. She could get a glimpse of extraneous carts parked outside. She couldn't though make out how many horses there were outside. Her worried look travelled back to the group of people that first noticed her presence after she took the last step down to the ground floor.

"What's going…," she silenced when the group somewhat split and Jack was in sight. He had his hands tied behind his back with two lancers holding their strong hold on his upper arms.

His eyes met hers. There was some kind of a smirk in his gaze, even if the situation was nothing but funny. Her eyes travelled to Antonia that had clasped hands.

"I had to tell them, Angelica," she spoke coldly. "It was for the best."

Angelica took a step back and frowned. What was she talking about? Why were they arresting Jack? For what? He hadn't done anything wrong? Sure he had. But it was only Angelica's knowledge. Then the event of last night became clear. Of how she had sat down at the dining table and explained everything for Antonia. She knew. And by the look on the remaining Teaches including the town police; she figured they all knew.

"No…," she mumbled bewildered just as the guards shoved Jack out of through the front door. Her confused gaze followed him before they quickly swift back to her family. "What are you doing?!"

The red face of her father confirmed his rage. "How could you?" he asked in anger and walked up to her. Scared she backed another step but it was to no avail. She knew he'd be capable of doing much in his furious self.

In the meantime Jack stood outside. The lancers debated where to bring him while signing contracts. They discussed which contract belonged to whom and which lists Jack's full name was written on. He heard the loud noises coming from the entrance room by the open front door. He witnessed Edward walk up to his daughter and slap her face, the roaring and the sight of Beatrice trying to push her husband away from her daughter.

"How could you?! Answer me!"

"Edward it's our daughter!"

"So be what?"

"Don't be too loud or our guests will wake up."

Angelica didn't really wince at the physical contact she had gotten. All that preoccupied her was about what would occur to Jack. It was all of her fault.

"I love him," she said to clarify her reasons of doing what she had. It only cost Edward to explode.

"You don't love a peasant! A filthy criminal is what he is!" he was on his way to slap her but Beatrice placed herself in front of her daughter.

"She is our daughter. She did a mistake but we have to protect her from the consequences!"

"Move Beatrice or I will hit you too!"

His hand was raised but Beatrice did not even flinch. Her eyes were challenging and her mouth was formed in a straight line. He lowered it and let out a grunt.

"I want that man hanged!" he roared and stormed outside in the rain to startle the group of lancers. Jack simply examined Edward. He hadn't believed he could bring this rage to a person in such a higher position than him. That made him proud.

"I want him hanged! I want him dead tonight!" he hollered and pointed at Jack. "He has disgraced my daughter and is going to be punished for it!"

The head lancer nodded. "Yes, Sir."

"I am going to head downtown this afternoon and witness it myself!" he hollered in rage. He approached Jack that winced slightly. The elder man's face was breathing into his and his eyes stared right into Jack's. It looked like his head would boil in anger. Surely, he'd holler something at Jack but he was out of words in his furious state.

Angelica rushed outside with Beatrice hot on her heels, without a care in the world how she could get harmed. She pushed him aside.

"Let him alone! He did nothing wrong!"

Edward turned to his daughter, slapping her for the second time that day. "He's a pirate!"

"Edward!" Beatrice yelled.

"He's a good man!" Angelica defended.

Jack made a face that said he didn't quite agree on that one. "Not completely sure I-,"

"You and your stupidity Angelica! He is nothing but a filthy criminal! And I will have him hanged if it's so the last thing I'll do!"

"You can't!" Angelica screamed. She wouldn't let her father kill the only man she ever loved. Jack was the love of her life, no matter the manner of yesterday. She knew him despite the fact he had revealed this different identity from his past. She still knew him. "I love him. And I'm not letting you take him away from me!"

Some of the petrified lancers gasped by that confirmation being said. A Lady caring for a pirate? That was some story to tell.

It only added to Edward's anger though.

"I'm not going to have it!" he hollered.

"You're not going to hang him! Let him go!" she yelled and turned to the lancers, ready to take their rifles and shoot them all if that was what was needed for Jack's life. Beatrice stopped her actions by grabbing her and holding her back.

"Stop it Angelica."

The lancers gathered the papers. The chief gave the angry Edward Teach a nod. "He will have his trial tonight and the possible, but obvious, hanging tomorrow morning."

Jack smirked. "A whole more day to live."

Edward Teach approached him again. "A whole more day until I'll throw your head to the dogs."

Angelica began feeling how her watery eyes began losing. A couple of tears streamed down her face. She was losing him. He was going to disappear out of her life forever tomorrow. No more chances to ever see him again. She'd live without him for eternity. For the rest of her life.

"Please don't," she let out to the lancers, begging them to not do it. "Let him go."

"I'm sorry Miss. But this is an order. It's the law," the chief said strictly and then snapped with his fingers. That motion caused the others to grab Jack and shove him into a metallic cart.

"G'bye, love," Jack said, no hint of fright or regret in his voice. He seemed content in some way. He had been born as a pirate and would die as one. That wasn't that bad. But he had wanted to finish some other adventures first. And perhaps receive eternal life, immortality. Maybe though he had already managed making his name to live on forever?

Angelica struggled out of Beatrice hold and began approaching the cart.

"Let him go! Don't hang him. Please!"

Two lancers stopped her by crossing their rifles cross her way. She tried to move past them but they only gently shoved her back to prevent her.

"Miss, I have to beg you to step back."

Tears were making their way down her cheeks but she couldn't care less. "Let me go! Stop the cart. Don't do this, please don't. Please don't do this," her voice began cracking at places.

Her mother approached her and held her back. "It's over Angelica."

"Let me go!"

"No, I'm not letting you go."

"I said; let me go!" she yelled and struggled in the grip, but her mother only tightened the embrace. There was no way her daughter would succeed saving Jack. He was doomed.

Seeing that the young woman was caught in her mother's embrace, the remaining lancers said a goodbye to Edward. They began heading to their carts and horses, all the while Angelica kept her gaze on one thing. The metallic cart.

Her eyes followed how it became smaller and smaller until it disappeared through the mound's ports. He was gone. He was gone for good.

Her knees folded as she was about to collapse. If it weren't for her mother, she'd fall to the ground. Everything was her fault. She never should have trusted Antonia. Her tears were wiped away by the raindrops that had also wetted her dress. Her mother's hair and whole body were soaking wet, but yet there she stood. Her arms around her daughter to keep standing her while she cried. Soothingly, she caressed her cheek against her daughter's head.

"Everything's going to be fine, mi'ja. I promise."

The day at the mansion had passed slowly. It was afternoon but it felt as if it was a week after the event. Antonia had spent the majority of the day in her room due the fact that Angelica had totally gone insane. She had furiously yelled at her and been on her way to attack her when Duck had been ordered to prevent the youngest daughter. Later the two guests had woken up and wondered what was going on, and they all had to act as if nothing happened. They told them the truth – parts of the truth. That Jack had been captured by the Navy but left out the part about the romance. Of course Lord Christian could never find out about it. He had wanted to spend some time with Angelica, but he soon noticed she wasn't in mood for that. Instead, he headed downtown to meet up with a seamstress for a new attire to wear.

The youngest had spent her day with her face buried in a pillow. Whenever her blurry eyes would look up, she'd see a guard in her room, making sure she stayed there.

It was first in the afternoon her mother returned to her room. Beatrice had spent many hours in Angelica's room, caressing her back while trying to comfort her. They had talked a bit but it was impossible to make her daughter smile at the time. She had left to fix things in the house. She had a couple of events to decline because of the happenings of today and tomorrow.

She brought Angelica to a lounge room where the seamstress was. She had already fixed the wedding dress and it was time for Angelica to try it on. Not much of a good timing.

Tears continued streaming down her face while cursing at herself. It was only herself to blame. She had been the one who hadn't kept her mouth shut. Now she had to face the consequences. To see Jack hang in a rope. Everything was her fault. He had told her truth, hadn't he? At least he had and she had completely overreacted. Of course she knew him. She was such a stupid woman. Jack would never forgive her for this.

So there she stood in the middle of the room, watched by guards like she had been ever since the morning. They were there to make sure she didn't leave the mansion. She stood on a little plateau with a seamstress fixing the white dress.

Her mother examined her with pride. "Stop crying, mi'ja. You look absolutely divine."

Divine? She didn't care how she looked like. She just wanted to escape.

Beatrice wiped the tears away from Angelica's face. "There's nothing any of us can do. Your father won't change his mind."

Angelica knew that was true. Her father never changed his mind once he had decided what to do.

"I shouldn't have done what I did."

Beatrice looked carefully up to her daughter while the seamstress and guards acted as if they were air.

"I'd love to say that you're wrong; but you really shouldn't have gone that far. You knew that was beyond boundaries. So did Jack. But I think this was a little too hard punishment. He shouldn't get hanged for this."

Angelica sobbed.

"But that's the law and I can't do anything about it. Specially when your father will stick to his decision."

Wiping her own tears away, Angelica glared at her mother. "I love him mother. And you will kill him because of that. I could marry him instead."

"No you cannot."

"Yes I could. I could've lived with him somewhere else. I wanted to. I still want to do that."

Beatrice shook her head and sunk down in a couch. "But what about him? What does he want?"

"He asked me last night if I wanted to travel on a ship with him."

Beatrice nodded slowly. "You two were that serious?"

Angelica swallowed to not start crying again. The lump in her throat hurt her badly though. It felt as if she had swallowed a sharp knife that cut her throat.

"Of course we were," her low voice cracked.

The seamstress turned to Beatrice. "I'm going to get a scissor to cut a loose thread," she said and walked out of the room. Sensing the emotions in the room, the guards also left it to stay right outside.

"So what did you plan? That you'd live out on the seas forever?"

She shrugged lightly. "Then at least we'd be together. Maybe eventually we'd find an island to settle down, I don't know."

"Well, if he cared for you he wouldn't let you along, Angelica. He'd know how dangerous it is for someone like you," Beatrice pointed out.

"And he didn't. It was my idea and my push until last night when he finally agreed."

It was silent in the room for a while, but then the mother stood up. She looked across the room to Angelica in her wedding dress before walking out of the door, leaving Angelica alone in the room.

She walked upstairs and straight to the office where her husband was. He sat at the desk and read some paperwork.

"Edward Teach!" she stormed through the doors. "You cannot do this to our daughter!"

Looking up from the paper, he gave her a wondering look. "Please tell me why," he spoke sarcastically.

"Because she loves him."

He chuckled. "She doesn't know what love is. But I do believe that peasant has talked her into thinking she is."

Beatrice shook her head. "I've spent all day with her. She's been crying constantly and told me about them. I don't believe Edward this was a simple fling."

"Well I do, and it's final."

She placed her palms down on the desk and leaned a bit over it. "Make the governor let him go."

"Beatrice, leave."

"No."

Edward shoved harshly the staples of paperwork down to the floor and glared at his wife. But she didn't wince at all.

"What if you hadn't been rich? You hadn't been able to marry me either then."

"But I happened to be wealthy, and no piracy in me. He is bad for her and I'm doing her a favor. She'll thank me in a couple of years, trust me."

Beatrice shook her head. It was impossible to prove him wrong. He'd never be convinced. "Please, Edward."

"Last word; no."

Gibbs had heard the news of a servant being sent to the gallows. It was no true excitement in that since it happened all the time. Servants that had upset the families were immediately sent downtown to the so called trial. There they'd get hanged for silly reasons and if not; the family would make up a stupid lie about something and the servant would be executed. This morning though, the rumour was about the Teaches. A servant had been sent to the gallows by the father. Naturally Gibbs figured out right away it had to do with the romance. And he was right. Jack had gotten the penalty at the trail. It hadn't really benefited him at all – hanging.

At the jail Gibbs had entered, he met Jack on the other side of the bars. He was sitting there contently with a bottle of rum.

"Gibbs, you sly and soiled pirate, you made it," he grinned and stood up. He handed Gibbs the bottle between the bars.

He poured it down his throat and then handed it back to Jack. "Heard the news. They be no good ones."

"Aye."

"Any plan to escape?" he asked.

Jack wore an expression as if he mused on it. "Do I ever plan?"

"Then what do we do?"

Jack shrugged. "Say, we let the rumour spread."

Gibbs frowned. "And more people will attend your hanging?"

"Aye, more people will attend me hanging."

"And how will that possibly help you? We finally have the Pearl, Jack."

Jack grinned wryly. "Just spread the rumour, Gibbs. Savvy?"

Rolling his eyes, he decided to trust his friend. "I've never understood your ways, Captain."

With that he left, determined to spread the rumour that Captain Jack Sparrow was getting executed the following morning. Jack on the other hand headed back to the wall, leaned his back against it and sat down. He was tired from all of the drama the day contained. Carefully, he fingered in his pockets in search for more rum, but there was none. Although there was an odd material that made him suspicious. He brought up the item and laid his eyes on the white plastic rose he just had bought. Angelica.

He had fallen asleep after putting the flower back. For a while he had waited for Gibbs to return with perhaps news, but he hadn't. Apparently he was still running around in town, spreading the rumour of Jack being in prison.

What awoke him though was not the sound of a new angry prisoner getting imprisoned, a stone falling from the ceiling nor the sound of the barking dog. It was his name being called.

"Jack?!"

His eyelids went up slowly, but closed when he realized he must have imagined it.

"Jack!"

No, no. That soft voice calling for him was familiar. He knew that someone too well to miss her voice. Before he had reached the bars completely, Angelica had rushed to stand there. Her hands were clenching on the metallic bars and she was panting.

"Jack?" she let out. "You're here."

She was wearing a white dress, a wedding dress. Brown hair fell loosely over her shoulders in that wavy way as she looked pleadingly at him. She was soaking wet though, and so was her hair. "I'm so sorry."

At that he snapped back into reality, the fact that she was there. "You're soaking wet," he stated and took the final steps to the bars. He touched her wet hair with water dripping from it.

"This is all my fault. I'm so sorry, Jack."

He beamed at her. "No need to be sorry, love."

"I thought I could trust her, but I was wrong," she admitted sadly. Alright, Jack had seen Angelica many many many times. He had seen her dressed up, not dressed at all – but this time, she exceeded all the previous times. The wedding dress was perfect on her.

Slowly, his hands made their way through the bars to pull her closer. He let them remain on her waist.

"How did ye get here?" he asked amused.

She smiled slightly. "They left me alone in a room, and I took that opportunity to get out of there."

He grinned wryly. "That's m'lady."

There was a silence between them before Angelica decided to apologize. "I'm sorry for what happened yesterday. Everything. I really am. I should have reacted in a different way."

Shaking his head slightly, Jack smirked. "No need, love. Nothing of this is ye fault."

"Well it is-,"

"It's not," he cut her off and smiled. "And I will be fine, so no need to worry."

She frowned. "You'll be hanged, Jack. Everything will not be fine." Her hands went through the bars as well and quickly moved to the back of his head. She fingered on his dreadlocks.

"You're far more handsome in reality than on the posters."

"Aye, such a terrible painter," Jack agreed smugly.

She let out a laugh, before clearing her throat. "You should have told me from the beginning though."

Jack's eyebrow quirked disbelievingly. "You hated me," he defended. "You would have been my death for real then."

Angelica smiled. "Well, that's true."

"It is," Jack said amused.

She just looked sadly at him and caressed everything from his cheek to his dreadlocks. "I'll miss doing this."

Jack's eyes looked at her hands that travelled around him. "Ye've changed."

"Hmm…?" she mumbled.

"Ye're different. The woman I first met was a snobby wench," he teased.

"She was?"

"Aye. But now she's a true fine woman," he confirmed. That caused her to smile again, eyelids slowly drooped and she stood on her toes to catch his mouth between the bars. His hands clenched her soft wedding dress and pressed her closer to him as his eyelids drooped too. Her lips were so smooth and… kissable. He swore he could stand there forever and just make-out with her. Burying her hands in his dreadlocks, she pushed his head closer to her. After a while of pure kissing, it became hotter and her hands began searching for his buttons to feel him underneath. In their daze, they didn't even hear the whistles the other inmates made.

"Can't we get a room?" she murmured against his mouth. She could feel how his lips formed a smile.

"No-no. Don't think that's possible, unfortunately."

She whined slightly but pulled him back. It was important to use the time left with him the best she could.

"ANGELICA TEACH!" Oh, no! That was her father!

They pulled back from one another to see Edward with guards marching towards her. "I knew you'd be here! Come here!"

Ignoring them, she turned back to Jack. "You have escaped death before, do it again."

Jack grinned at her. "Always commanding me," he said.

"I'm going to miss you… tremendously."

Jack put his hands under her chin, completely disregarding to her father's roaring down the hall.

"I'll miss you too."

She stood up on her toes again to share a chaste kiss just in time before she was pulled back by her father.

Jack was fast to back by the approach of Edward and the guards. He could hear Angelica cursing and struggling but she was shoved down the hall, away from him.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sparrow," Edward said angrily and then joined his guards. Jack walked back to the bars and managed seeing the last glimpse of his woman in white dress.

Angelica hadn't spoken to her father during their awkward way home. It had been completely silent in the cart as it was transported along the way. As soon as it stopped in the garden, she jumped out of it and considered jumping up on a horse and escape. Knowing his daughter, he snapped with his fingers to make the guards surround her. She had no other choice but to walk into her home that nowadays felt as a prison. Beatrice had been inside the entrance room and hovered over her. Her arms had flung around Angelica. Later on she would complain about how careless she had been with the wedding gown. It was ruined from the little adventure she had had. But she didn't blame her much. That Jack seemed to mean way more to her daughter than she had thought.

The night had been awful. Angelica had frustrated thrown things around her room and yelled at her parents when they arrived to see what happened. Nothing they did would calm her down. First in the middle of the night, she was so tired she had to lie down and cry herself to sleep. She felt so helpless. There wasn't anything she could do.

In the morning she got dressed slowly. Ms Eileen had woken her up and helped her getting ready for the morning's event. She skipped breakfast. Yesterday she hadn't eaten anything. Today would probably be equal.

Black gloves, a black hat and a black dress. That reflected her emotions. Everything felt so surreal. She was going to witness Jack hang. Jack's death.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks when she walked downstairs. Her family was all dressed up, but Antonia wasn't there. Her mother had told her to stay low and avoid Angelica for a while, for her own sake. Therefore Sir John wouldn't attend the execution. Lord Christian V was there though.

He had looked at her wonderingly, but Beatrice walked up to his side.

"No servant made as good tea as he did, Lord Christian, thus her reaction."

"Oh," Lord Christian nodded. He understood. In an instant he hurried to Angelica's side, took her hand and walked beside her to the cart. When they arrived at the square, many people were cheering and throwing vegetables at the high plateau where Jack would get hanged. The poorer population was also there to collect the thrown food. Ports in the four corners of the plaza were closed to not have too many people crowding inside.

Edward walked up to a house that had a view over the square. It was there every important person sat. Angelica, Beatrice, Lord Christian and Edward Jr. joined him on the high plateau to gaze over the crowded plaza. All with clasped hands except for Angelica that squirmed in her chair, anxious. Her fabric tissue was soaking wet by her tears.

The governor of Port Royal showed up behind them, coming from inside the house. He exchanged a couple of words with Edward. Beatrice on the other hand was greeting some friends to the family that sat further away under umbrellas their staff held for them.

Beatrice put her hand over Angelica's and hugged it. She could only imagine how it felt. She swallowed and scanned the area. Only reason she attended these gatherings was because of her husband. Whatever event he showed up to, she also had to unless she wanted gossip to be spread about them. Slowly, she glanced to her daughter and wiped tears away. She'd get humiliated if anybody found out she had fancied the man.

She sobbed and tried to hide it by lowering her black hat.

"Hello, love."

The two women turned around in their chairs.

Jack was standing there with ropes around his wrists that were tied together. Two guards were standing on each side of him.

"…Jack?" Angelica asked with a cracked voice. "Will they let you free?" she continued hopefully.

Jack shook his head but didn't look sad at all. "Not the case."

More tears streamed down her cheeks. The scene had caused some of the friends of her family to watch them carefully, whisper something among them. But Angelica didn't care.

"I just…," Jack said and fumbled with his hands in his pocket. "Wanted to give ye this."

He handed her this white rose. Angelica took it carefully as it was made of the most expensive porcelain.

"It's made of this new material called plastic, the seller said."

She looked a bit confused up to him, appreciative but confused.

"It's a material that lasts forever."

Angelica fingered on the white rose. It was perfect. The most perfect white rose she ever had seen. "It's perfect Jack."

"And…," he kind of squirmed on the place. He wanted to wipe her tears away but the ropes prevented his intentions. He hated watching her cry. He hated being the reason of her sorrow. "I…," it was just hard saying it. At least he was trying. Pronouncing something one had never said before wasn't the easiest thing. It felt weird saying it, at the same time it flew out of his mouth like the lightest breeze. Yet it was deeper than Jack ever had gone. "…I love you."

Angelica gulped.

"And I will stop," he gestured to the flower. "…when the flower wither."

The lump in her throat hurt like those thousands of sharp knives again. This was unfair. She was too full of sorrow and too close to burst out crying that she wasn't able to give a reply. In addition, Jack was shoved a step forward.

"Goodbye, Angelica Sparrow."

She let out something between a whimper and a sounding breath. Her eyes followed how he was shoved towards the middle of the plaza, people trying to touch him when the group penetrated the crowd. Her hands clenched around the chair's armrest when he walked up the stairs. He was staring right at her and she right back at him.

A well dressed lancer unfolded a paper and began reading. "Jack Sparrow-,"

"Captain," Jack corrected frustrated with clenched eyes. "Captain Jack Sparrow."

The lancer who had raised his look, returned to the notes. "Fair well. Captain Jack Sparrow. You are guilty of piracy paragraph…," the lancer began browsing for a longer moment.

"Seventy-two," Jack filled in.

The lancer looked up again, and made a thankful nod to him intervening. "You are guilty of piracy, paragraph seventy-two. By degree all persons found guilty of piracy, or aiding a convicted person of piracy, or associating with a person convicted of piracy; shall be sentenced to hang by the neck until dead," he spoke in a loud voice while the circular rope was being pulled around Jack's neck by a man in black mask.

The lancer lowered the paperwork. "Any last words?"

Thinking about it for a brief moment. Jack shook his head. Then right before the man with black mask was about to pull the lever, he pointed with his forefinger up in the air. "There is something," he announced.

The man in black mask paused his actions.

The lancer waited for Jack's phrase. "Then spill your heart while you can."

Jack grinned mischievously. "You may want to check your cabinets at home, Greg," he told the lancer. How did Jack know his name was Greg? Greg looked terrified at Jack and turned to the governor who made a nod. In turn, Greg nodded to the man in black mask.

"NO!" Angelica howled over the plaza. Everyone shut as all eyes were on her. She had flown up from her chair and had her hands on the fence where she was. "Don't hang him!" tears were still streaming down her cheeks. She thought she'd faint by grief. This could not happen.

The masked man had let go of the lever but grabbed it again. Nobody could stop the hanging if it weren't for the governor himself. Jack glanced now scared sideways to how the masked man took hold of the lever. It was as if everything happened in slow-motion. He pulled it slightly and Jack would fall into the whole of the plateau but never reaching the ground.

It was also then the ports burst open and a whole crowd of people stormed into the plaza. Mary and the Johnsons, alongside Gibbs in lead, plus half the town with the neighbourhood in front.

They barricaded and fought themselves through the crowd. Taking the opportunity, Jack brought his tied hands above his head to get a hold on the rope. He moved his legs and let them cling to rope upside down while he wriggled his head out of the loop. At the time he jumped down to the plateau, a fight had burst out in the crowd. He leaned his hands out over the plateau for Gibbs to swing his sword between his hands. He cut loose the ropes and Jack grabbed another sword Gibbs threw him. "Hurry Jack!" he shouted before fighting a man.

"Aye! I'll hurry!" Jack shouted and fought down the masked man. Greg didn't even carry a weapon, thereby the reason of him holding his hands up in surrender. The remaining lancers though that previously had watched the scene proudly, now aimed their rifles at the opponents' way. Bullets were flying in the air, but Jack wasn't one to get hit. He jumped down in the crowd, ready to fight off lancers.

Agape, Beatrice looked over the plaza that had transformed into a fighting zone. Edward was fuming under his breath and debated with a friend how it was for the lancers' best that they caught that Jack again before he had escaped. By his excellent fencing, it didn't look as if they would succeed though. He turned to Beatrice.

"They better capture him."

She gave him a look and turned to Angelica. Or more likely – turned to where she thought Angelica would be. The chair she had been sitting on was empty. She was gone. Edward also saw her empty chair.

"Where's Angelica?!" he demanded from Beatrice. By her shocked expression, he figured she didn't know either. Immediately he stood up and pointed to his guards. "FIND HER!"

Beatrice stood up as well and disappeared into the crowd. "Where are you doing?!" Edward shouted after her. She looked up to the plateau.

"I'll be back!" she yelled and vanished among the people. She knew exactly where Angelica would be.

Someone from Gibbs crew had cut loose the horses during the event and they were now everywhere. He himself jumped up on one and so did the rest of his crew as they rode down to the harbour. Jack also found one he jumped up on, wincing a bit by its' movements. There was a reason he never transported himself on horses. Ships could always be trusted, but no animals.

He rode around the crowd, preventing lancers to swing their sword at him while scanning the people. He couldn't see the lady in black anywhere. He made his way through them to the end of the plaza and gazed among them. He had to leave unless he wished to have that loop around his neck again. He threw one last look to the crowd in an attempt of finding her, but she was nowhere.

Flipping in the reins, the horse began riding in post-haste away from the plaza. He rode through town and dodged from the bullets in the air that were aimed for him.

"Jack!"

Abruptly he pulled in the reins. He made the horse turn back a bit. In an alley to the street, he saw Angelica running towards him. For a brief moment, he felt relief wash over him; until he noticed the guards behind her catching up on her.

"Jack!" she screamed again in fear while running for her life.

He flipped in the reins again towards her and made a turn around her. He reached out and helped her up on the horseback behind him. She flung her arms around his waist to stay on the giant animal as he rode them down to the harbour.

"Ready for some adventures?" he asked her as he rode out along the pier.

"Adventure? That's how I define the this year," she said.

"Well then, be prepared for even worse," he grinned and made the horse to a stop. Angelica slid of the horse and stared at the Pearl. It was completely black, but beautiful. Gibbs and other sailors she had met at Mary's and the Johnsons in the neighbourhood were there aboard, panicking to preparing the vessel. Gibbs leaned over the railing and threw Jack his leather hat. He pattered the horse to leave the pier.

"Thought you'd want it!" Gibbs yelled.

"The Black Pearl…"

Jack smiled proudly. "My Black Pearl."

The two of them stood there, examining it. Never had she believed she'd be aboard the stories' ship.

"Angelica, mi'ja."

She and Jack turned around. Beatrice stood there and approached her daughter. She threw her arms around her and hugged her in a tight embrace. Tears were now instead streaming down her eyes. "I love you, mi'ja," she whispered in her ear.

Angelica forced a smile to appear on her sad face. "And I love you mother."

She cupped her daughter's face and examined it. "I'm just memorizing you. I'm going to miss you so much."

Then she let go and hugged the surprised Jack. "Take care of her."

Sure, he wasn't found of hugs, but Beatrice was an exception. She had actually in fact helped his life at the mansion not being a hell. "I will," he assured her sincerely.

She grabbed Angelica's hand and squeezed it. "We will meet again someday, promise me that."

Angelica smiled slightly. "I promise."

She hugged her mother again and quietly wished she could stay there in her mother's embrace for the rest of her life. But then Beatrice pulled back. "You should go."

She was right. The whole town police was running towards the pier as if their life depended on it. Jack hurried up along the boarding plank and waited for Angelica to do the same. She remained there on the pier, hesitating on the idea. She loved her mother, but she loved Jack as well.

"Go, mi'ja. Go!" her mother then urged her. "Go!"

Angelica took one last look at her mother before hurrying up the plank. Jack helped her jump down from the railing. She watched her mother wave at her as the Pearl began leaving port.

"Sparrow, you filthy pirate!" a lancer yelled when they reached the edge of the pier.

"You soiled bastard! Come back!"

"Sparrow!"

"I'm going to kill you!"

Jack smiled and walked over to the edge of the ship. He leaned over the railing and lifted his hat dramatically. "Gentlemen! – M'lady,!" he winked at Beatrice that smiled at him. "You will always remember as this is the day, that you almost caught Captain. Jack. Sparrow."

Many from the Navy jumped towards the ship in tryouts of reaching it, but there was already too much distance.

When he smugly whirled around to examine his beautiful pride, there was an addition he wouldn't trade for anything. Her black hat had fallen off during their ride, therefore the reason of her hair fluttering in the breeze. He waved at her to join him at the helm. He carefully caressed the wheel as if it was made of gold.

"So…," Jack began and flirtatiously looked at her. She gave him a look.

"What do you have in mind, Captain?"

He grinned wryly at her. "Like the sound of that."

Gibbs decided to join them. He walked up the helm and cleared his throat to not witness anything that would want him to throw up.

"Captain?"

"Aye?"

He approached them and made a nod to Angelica. "Good to see you, Angelica."

She smiled at him. No need of titling her as Miss. "It's good to see you too, Gibbs."

"Do we have a heading?"

Jack fumbled up his compass and let the needle spin. His finger followed it's direction. "I suppose then William Kidd's treasure on Long Island be there," he said and pointed in a direction.

Gibbs smiled. "I guess so." He left them to give new orders to the crew. Jack fingered on Angelica's long hair. After following his motion with her eyes, she raised her eyebrows. His eyes were lowered on her cleavage.

"See something you fancy?"

"I see much I fancy," he said playfully.

When she put her hands to rest on her hips, he took a step back and hands up surrender. "Something wrong, love?"

She shook her head. "I just wonder… I thought I'd be married in a month."

Jack nodded, not at all seeing where the conversation was going.

"So I wonder… What do you have to offer?"

"A ship?"

She rolled her eyes. "Relationship Jack. I know there have been many women in your life, and I don't want to be seen as one of them."

Still not understanding, Jack tried again. "You won't," he assured.

Sighing she nodded towards the stairs. "I'm going for a nap. Where is our cabin?"

Our cabin. He had never shared a cabin with anyone before. He had to admit it made him excited. Specially knowing it was with her he'd share the bed with.

"At the staircase."

She smiled and walked to it but stopped. Giving him a somewhat annoyed look, he folded his arms. "What now?"

Suddenly grinning, she shook her head again. "Nothing. It's just that when mini Jack or mini Angelica arrives; I want it to have its' mother and father married."

He peered as he tried to make out what she just said.

"You have seven months to propose, Jack. And I expect it to be fancy," she explained decidedly.

Gibbs who had been sitting at the railing and listened to them, giggled. He watched Angelica head inside a cabin and moved his gaze upwards to see Jack lying on the floor.

Nah. He'd get used to it. He'd have five of those minis within a couple of years.

THE END

A/N: :( I'm sad it's over. I really loved writing this story, so sad (for my part;)) that it has come to an end. It feels like just yesterday I came up with this idea and decided to do a story of it.

- I've always loved Beatrice, such a caring and loving mother :)

Anyhow, now that you have the read the whole story, Como la flor, what did you think of it? :) What's your opinion? Did you like it/hate it? Why? :)

Also, as you can see I chose a happy ending. But my intention from the beginning was actually to hang Jack and make Angelica marry Christian. If you readers are intersted in a sequel I could write one later. But if you're content with this that's fine as well ;) I'm just open for it in case anybody would like to have one. Well, now it's time to finish my other two stories! Plus, I might have two incoming, but we'll see ;)

This story was inspirated by two songs; Como la flor and Amor Prohibido since they have a special place in my heart...

Btw, even if you'd read this story like ten years after this chapter was published, I'd really like to hear your opinion :)

/valenelle